Hlukhiv

I live in Hlukhiv. It is an ancient town founded in 992. It is a district town known since 1152 as a town of the Chernigiv Principality. The name comes from “hlukhyi” lonely, remote. It is the hometown of Ukrainian painters Anton Losenko, Konstantyn Lomykin and Mykola Murashko; composers M.Berezovskyi and D.Bortnianskyi. In 1738 the first in Ukraine school of singers was opened in Hlukhiv.

Hlukhiv has its long and glory history. During its history the town knew many famous and tragical times. As a fortress on the southern boundary of the Kyiv Rus Hlukhiv defended the state from Polovtsy and was ruined by different enemies. It burnt in fires. It was conquered by Mongolo-Tatars and Poland. But each time Hlukhiv revived.

The XVIII-th century when the town became the capital of the left bank Ukraine may be called " The golden age" for Hlukhiv. Magnificent palaces beautiful churches, the unique singers school, a well-known theatre were built in Hlukhiv. Many famous people visited the town: Tsar Peter I, T.G.Shevchenko, M.V.Gogol and others.

Now Hlukhiv is not a large industrial city. It is a typical Ukrainian small town. The population of Hlukhiv is about 40 thousand people. It is situated on the banks of the river Esman. Hlukhiv is very picturesque with its cozy, calm and clean streets, in summer Hlukhiv is buried in verdure.

In Hlukhiv there are some plants and factories. There are also some secondary schools, a medical school, a technical college, a pedagogical college, a vocational school, a sports school and an art school. There is a palace of culture, a hospital, museums, a stadium, a bus and a railway stations in Hlukhiv.

Hlukhiv is known for its Institute of Bast Crops which is very active in the field of hemp cultivation in Ukraine and for the Hlukhiv State Pedagogical University. We celebrated 130-th anniversary of our University in 2004. Many famous people studied here. Among them are S. Sergeyev-Tsensky, O.Dovzhenko, S.Vasylchenko, M.Palashchenko and others.

Hlukhiv is rich in historical monuments such as St. Mykola Church founded in the 16-th century (now it is being reconstructed); St. Anastasia Church; Spaska Church and others.

Hlukhivites are cordial, friendly and hard-working people who are proud of their town.

Give synonyms to the following words:

Branch, comfortable, title, artist, well-known, wonderful, quiet, charming, growing, distant, pleasant, fatherland, castle.

Give antonyms to the following words:

To ruin, tragical, glorious, dirty, town, hard-working

Answer the following questions:

1. When was Hlukhiv founded?

2. Where does the name «Hlukhiv» come from?

3. Why was Hlukhiv a fortress in ancient times?

4. When was Hlukhiv made a capital of left-bank Ukraine?

5. Why can the 18-th century be called «the golden age» for Hlukhiv?

6. What kind of town is Hlukhiv nowadays?

7. What is Hlukhiv famous for?

8. How old is the Pedagogical University?

9. Whom is Hlukhiv a fatherland for?

10. What historical monuments attract tourists to Hlukhiv?